Monday, January 07, 2019

Two Wonderful Days in Laredo

We're in Laredo on business, having paid for hundreds of dollars worth of metal and glass yard art on Saturday from a large indoor/outdoor wholesale warehouse and ready to pick it up this morning, packed and ready to go. We will also specify more to be shipped at the end of March. But we always combine work and play. We're staying at the old downtown Rialto Hotel (John sitting out back where we've just finished our breakfast hot tacos). The hotel is right across from a little park where we've had our picnic suppers. It's not for everyone. We had to ask for more than 1 hand towel, etc and other little things that would be expected in any low-cost chain motel. But when we can get a very affordable and clean old fashioned hotel, we take it.

This is a Mexican city (in the USA). None of the dozens we've encountered are Anglos--not one. None speaking English as their first language. We took a long walk yesterday morning right out our door into upscale and downscale neighborhoods, loaded grape fruit and orange trees everywhere.

The idea of Trump's Wall seems so ludicrous. John stands in front of the Wall which only extends 20 yards to his right where we pass by people fishing with no wall/fence between them and Mexico, only the river, people fishing on the other side. This is a nice park where we have our picnic lunch, a large family nearby, kids on a scooter and kicking a soccer ball with Dad while another dad gets charcoal in the grill and the women spread out the food. A National Emergency on the southern border. Really? The bridge is off to our left, cars and pedestrians going over to, and coming from, Mexico.










In the afternoon we took a ride, stopping to hike at the very fine Casa Blanca International State Park, walking along the beach of a large lake and hiking up into the hills.